Early Identification of Potential SSDI Entrants in California: The Predictive Value of State Disability Insurance and Workers' Compensation Claims.

Purpose Examine the potential for using information in short-term disability claims to identify workers at high risk of leaving the workforce and entering Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). Methods We analyze state-wide California data on claimants of State Disability Insurance (SDI) and Workers' Compensation (WC) and present statistics on: (1) characteristics (primary diagnosis, sex, age, geography, wage level) by claim duration (0-3, 4-6, 7-12, 12 + months); and (2) the ability of initial claim characteristics to predict duration of at least 12 months. All data are for claims with disability lasting more than 1 week.

American Medical Association impairment ratings and earnings losses due to disability.

Objectives: To examine the association between impairment ratings and earnings losses.

Methods: We conducted a case-control study of 21,663 workers' compensation claimants in California with impairment ratings under the AMA Guides, fifth edition. Earnings losses represented the percent difference between the earnings of cases and controls 3 years after disability onset.

Comparing severity of impairment for different permanent upper extremity musculoskeletal injuries.

The labor market impact of upper extremity musculoskeletal injuries that result in permanent disability was estimated using data from the State of California. Administrative data on disability evaluations and resulting ratings was matched to data on the earnings of over 7000 injured workers. Using these data, labor market experience pre- and postinjury was tracked.